• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, April 19, 2013

Interpublic Group reported a 2.4% increase in revenue for the first quarter to $1.54 billion and a net loss of $58.5 million, versus a net loss of $45.7 million for the same period a year earlier.

Organic revenue growth for the period, which excludes acquisitions and currency fluctuations, was 2.3%. By comparison, Publicis Groupe reported first quarter organic growth of 1.3%, while Omnicom reported growth of 2.9%.

The company's organic growth in the U.S. for the period was just 0.5%, versus 4%-plus for both Publicis and Omnicom. IPG said its organic growth outside the U.S. was significantly better at 4.9%.

“Key drivers of performance included our strong operations in emerging economies, the quality digital offerings embedded across the group, our media and marketing services companies as well as our substantial U.S. operations,” stated IPG CEO Michael Roth.

Roth added that he believes the company is positioned to achieve its full-year financial targets for 2013.

The company described its $42.4 million operating loss for the quarter as “seasonal.”